The horror flick “Lights Out,” produced by James Wan, was a massive success, grossing almost $150 million against a budget just under $5 million upon its 2016 release. With such triumph, it was expected that New Line Cinema would promptly give the green light to a sequel. However, seven years later, “Lights Out 2” remains in limbo, never having progressed into production. Recently, Collider organized a screening of “Lights Out” with director David F. Sandberg in attendance. Sandberg delved into the shelved sequel during the event.

To jog memories, “Lights Out” focused on Rebecca’s departure from home, hoping to leave her childhood fears behind. Her uncertain experiences during darkness, which once tested her sanity, resurface as her younger brother, Martin, faces similar unexplained and terrifying events linked to their mother, Sophie. As Rebecca unravels the truth, their lives hang in peril when the lights go out. The film starred Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke, Maria Bello, and Alicia Vela-Bailey.

Sandberg was set to direct “Lights Out 2,” working from a screenplay by the original film’s writer, Eric Heisserer. He confirmed to Collider the completion of a script draft, revealing a premise where Martin had grown older. Sandberg outlined, “She was sort of attacking a new family, but then this cast got involved to sort of help out with that. Because, I mean, you kind of have to do that.” He emphasized the essence of discovery in horror movies and the necessity for a fresh cast to encounter the haunting before the original cast could intervene as experts to aid in defeating the entity.

The missed opportunity for Sandberg to helm “Lights Out 2” is lamented, especially considering his subsequent directorial successes with “Annabelle: Creation,” “Shazam!,” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.”

Are you still eager for “Lights Out 2” to finally come to fruition after this prolonged delay?